LYNN — The 29th annual Shoe City Classic basketball tournament will return to Lynn this weekend at Marian Gardens courts, where about 50 teams from across the state will compete in the state’s longest-running annual basketball tournament.
When the tournament began in 1992, there were four neighborhood teams. Now, more than 50 teams come to Lynn from Boston, New Bedford, Brockton, Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and New Hampshire to compete.
Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan started this tournament, which was originally called the Hogan Classic, and Simmie Anderson took over as the tournament director in 2013.
Last year was the first year since its inception that the tournament did not happen, because of COVID-19, and Anderson said people are excited to be able to gather for this event again.
The tournament consists of elementary, middle school, high school, college and men’s professional divisions.
The tournament kicked off Friday at 4 p.m. and will continue Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. This all-day event is a family environment that consists of cookouts, music and games.
With the ongoing pandemic, Anderson said they were unsure if they could host the tournament this year and feared they would have to bypass this event again.
After discussions with Mayor Thomas M. McGee and Lisa Nerich from the Department of Public Works, Anderson said they were able to complete all of the necessary steps to ensure the success and safety of the tournament.
Anderson said that although the event will take place outside, masks will be encouraged but not necessary, and they increased the number of portable toilets from two to eight.
There will also be a free vaccine clinic at the tournament on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If it rains, Anderson said School Committee Member John Ford has secured the Marshall Middle School gym to be used for games. In addition to Ford, Anderson also thanked the city councilors and state Rep. Pete Capano (D-Lynn), who collaborated in making the event happen.
During the tournament, Anderson said they will honor Terrence Clark of Boston, who died in a car accident in Los Angeles in April. Clark was a freshman guard for the University of Kentucky’s basketball team and was headed for the NBA draft.
The NBA honored Clark during the draft in July, saying “he will forever be part of the NBA family,” and Anderson said the Shoe City Classic will do the same, as there will be a team from Boston competing in the tournament.
“This is a great tournament because it brings a lot of people together,” Anderson said. “A lot of Boston teams will be here this weekend, so I want to honor him and let them know that we are all together, being from Massachusetts.”
At the elementary- and middle-school levels, players on the winning teams will receive bikes. Both teams have eight players on each, so Anderson has 16 bikes ready to distribute to the winning teams.
As of now, the tournament is just for male players. Next year, Anderson said he is going to start incorporating female teams with their 30th-anniversary celebration.
Included in this year’s tournament, Anderson said, will be a couple of NBA and elite college players.
“We have one of the biggest basketball tournaments in Massachusetts,” Anderson said. “We have players from Duke, Syracuse and North Carolina, so before they go, they play in this.”
Parking is not allowed at Marian Gardens, but is available at St. George and St. Stephen’s Church lots.
